Trust celebrates innovative art exhibition at local gallery

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be holding a special event on August 20 at a local art gallery, to celebrate an exhibition of innovative artwork, created by mental health service users resident on a new low secure unit at Birch Hill Hospital.

The event is to celebrate the thought-provoking artwork created by the mental health service users, which explores their experiences of mental illness and the care system, whilst challenging some of the misconceptions around mental illness.

The work has been produced in collaboration with art therapists, artists, designers, photographers and ceramicists and is currently on display until the 24th of August at Gallery One, situated in Touchstones, the arts and heritage centre situated on Rochdale Esplanade.

A variety of projects encouraged the service users to determine their own themes and issues on which to base their art work. And after the exhibition, their work will be displayed permanently on the hospital’s wards.

Led by Art Therapist John Crossfield, the art projects were carefully designed to ensure confidentiality and the service users’ wellbeing, as well as enable freedom of expression, creative thinking and support skills development.

Commenting on the success of the exhibition and the forthcoming event, John said: “The art projects and artwork produced have not only allowed our service users to share their experiences and find common ground but also to put themselves and their thoughts and feelings out there and genuinely have a voice.

“We hope that the public has enjoyed the great work that’s on display and to acknowledge the success of the initiative, we’re celebrating with the special event on the 20 August between 2.30pm and 4.30pm to which the Trust’s management, staff and the press have been invited.”